Penn State football surprises snapper Kyle Vasey with full scholarship

Coach Franklin with Penn State long snapper Kyle Vasey, punter Daniel Pasquariello, place kicker Jordan Wombacker, long snapper Nick Cox and place kicker Nick Boumerhi during Penn State football practice at Lasch Field in State College, Pa. Mar. 30, 2016Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

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Penn State has awarded a full scholarship to one of its expected 2018 starters.

Kyle Vasey, who was previously a walk-on and started all 13 games as the Lions’ long snapper a year ago, learned of the news during a team meeting after a summer workout in State College on Tuesday.

Head coach James Franklin is heard in a program-produced video asking Vasey where and how often he is working this summer, presumably to help pay for his schooling, before telling him to quit because he’s being placed on scholarship. After, his teammates predictably erupt with hugs and congratulatory messages as the snapper can now discontinue his 25 to 30 hours of work a week.

Check it all out in the video below.

That moment when 4 years of hard work pays off…! [?] [?][?]

Congrats, @kfv1996!!!#WeAre pic.twitter.com/CKmxF0qygL

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) June 12, 2018

Vasey, a senior from Lackawaxen, Pa., was an Academic All-Big Ten pick in 2017. He is expected to again be Penn State’s snapper for field goals and punts, meaning three specialists will be on scholarship as he joins true freshman kicker Jake Pinegar and veteran punter Blake Gillikin.

One question the news will elicit centers on how it will impact the program’s scholarship chart, considering that the recent departure of tackle Corey Bolds seemingly put the Lions back at the NCAA-mandated 85-man scholarship limit.

Vasey’s scholarship would of course jump that total back to 86, which could mean that another player(s) intends to transfer and/or go onto a medical hardship scholarship, which does not count against the NCAA cap. Penn State, however, does not publicly share its scholarship chart annually, meaning the estimates are based on yearly signees and announcements such as this one.

Penn State opens the 2018 season on Sept. 1 against Appalachian State.

The Penn State Football Blitz | Recruitment Special Nittany Lions | 6-12-18